In a chain support thread Sept 2017

[Gizlotsmum]

Hope it's ok to start another one! So we have a week of waiting for surveys etc...

Missed a bit - forgot to say we are leaving the mounting board for the TV bracket simply because it would be a re-plastering job to put it right. The buyers are aware we have a TV mounted so I'm comfortable with leaving it how it is. We're also leaving the paint pots which have a wee bit left in them, so that the buyers can touch up if they want to - assuming they keep the decor how it is!

Well from being in complete limbo this time last week, suddenly we are full steam ahead. We went to see the house again on Friday as it's been months since we saw it last and wanted to check we still liked it and we turned up to a skip on their drive and in the middle of them emptying their loft to sort everything out. Seems like they are completely committed to getting this through which is great news since they've been dragging their heels finding somewhere for most of this year.

So mortgage application went in on Friday, solicitor instructed and as soon as our sellers get their survey/searches underway we'll be pushing on theory those too.

We might just make it in before Christmas!

Fingers crossed for you today Lazy and DragonMama

That all sounds very positive Raaraa I love having a skip clear our - it's so cathartic. Certainly shows how serious they are too.

On the "making good" we will leave the little picture hooks I think - mainly because they are in sensible places so it's likely the new person would want to put something there too. The larger jobs which involve screws and rawl plugs we will remove and make good. We will leave the paint cans in the garage. I had already done a list of which paint in which room for our ex-purchasers, so that's in my "buyers folder". I assume people will want to redecorate but possibly not immediately so leaving the paint would seem like a nice gesture.

Raa fingers crossed!!

Well...I am still waiting for a call from my solicitor, so I think it's safe to say we didn't exchange today - despite many, many phone calls to chase just about everybody we could think of. It's so frustrating because when everyone is - allegedly - ready, contracts are signed and money is on account then I don't understand what the delay is!! The good news is that the solicitor has confirmed they have our deposit money safely in their account, so that is one less thing to have to worry about...

Oh Lazy how annoying!

Positive news here from ea, they have had two offers on our buyers property, they are just checking the legitimacy and postion of the chain and our buyer will pick whichever is most promising so fx that they are goers and we can be back on track, our ea seems really on the ball so far so im happy about that. Never ever thought there would be so many ups and downs in a house move. Just trying to stay positive (my only goal is to be moved for school applications for 2019 academic year for dc2)

Thanks for all the making good advice - I think we’ll follow suit and make good bigger shelving removals involving rawl plugs, but leave the smaller picture nails etc. We also have plenty of paint pots and a paint chart to show which colour we decorated each room.

That’s annoying re no exchange lazy FX for tomorrow.

I’ve booked removals and we’ve sorted broad band & phone in new house. What do you do re utilities? Do you phone in advance on house you’re moving out of, to give them date of move, and then ring through actual readings on completion day? And presumably we stay connected / continue the same supply in purchase property but take meter readings when moving in then decide whether to switch at a later date? Sorry for all the Q’s! Not moved in 12 years so can’t remember!

That's great news sausage. If there's one thing I have learned it's that the property buying and selling lark is an absolute roller-coaster! Plus it is truly alarming when you tell people you're having a tough time and virtually every one of them has their own horror story to share. The English system badly needs reforming - it's absolutely bonkers that you can sink so much money into fees and costs and lose the lot if someone decides to change their mind for no reason whatsoever.

I know the Scots system is better, although I am not a fan of their sealed bids system because it is stacked against the buyer - as you'll invariably end up paying over the odds to secure the property you want. And God knows how that stacks up when trying to agree the market value for the mortgage valuation survey... I'd like to see something like the Australian system. You make an offer (which can be conditional upon surveys etc.), as soon as the vendor accepts it then it's legally binding, you pay a 10% deposit to the agent who holds it until the sale is complete - and if for any reason you want to withdraw then you have to pay them a 10% deposit.

Hmm...it looks like the dropped kerb works might have been started. There are yellow lines there that DH insists weren't there yesterday.

I almost daren't hope that we might soon have an end in sight...

We are due to complete Thursday, house is a complete tip, boxes everywhere, dismantled furniture.
My nightmare FTB has emailed the EA, staying that they need to know what date the house was built for their insurance policy or else they can't possibly exchange this week.

I emailed back with the answer and mentioned that as we'd already exchanged last week it's probably best not to go around making threats. It was also my understanding that you had to have your buildings insurance in place from the day of exchange??! Don't understand what they're playing at!

Ha munki - slightly comedy that they're threatening to not exchange when they've already done so! Although I appreciate your whole process with them has NOT been funny in the slightest.

I'm not sure about the insurance aspect - we are fully insured as from 1 minute past midnight on the planned day of completion for our onward purchase, I don't believe we're currently insured today even though we have exchanged. Good luck moving on Thursday - exciting times, and hopefully the whole horror of the moving process will be forgotten by this time next week.

Good news on the dropped kerb ann!

Oh FX Ann that it's starting, that would be great news!

Munki I take my hat off to you - it's a miracle that you haven't inflicted GBH at this point! Did they not bother to read their valuation survey report? You know, the document which has the estimated build date listed on it along with the reinstatement sum insured they'll need for the buildings cover...

My understanding is that buildings cover needs to be in place from date of exchange - I have a policy lined up and ready to go, am just waiting for the date!

Still waiting on the call. Getting really really fed up with it now. Everything is apparently ready but the solicitors have just done a vanishing act. Even our EA is getting pissed off.

Oh blimey - i'd better get DH to check our insurance policy!

That sounds very annoying lazy - can you get through to the senior property /conveyancing partner at the solicitors firm to get things moving? Even if just to update as to the whereabouts of those that should be pushing through the exchange.

Thanks Lazy and Major.

We did the same, building insurance from exchange and then contents included from completion.

Hang in there Lazy, we had the same too, buyers solicitors went awol on proposed day of exchange. Hope you hear something soon. Keep chasing them!

Munki, your FTBs are turning out to be quite hilarious aren't they? How polite were you in your email?

When we signed the contracts our solicitor explained to us at length how we need to insure the new property from the date of exchange, and keep our cover on the old one until we complete.

Your description of partial packing etc is why I want to move before or at the start of half term, Munki. It'll be a crap school holiday for DS if he has to spend it in packing chaos, and I can think of better ways to use the last of my annual leave too.

Lazy, that is absolutely maddening. I can't believe they've all just buggered off like that. I hope you manage to round them up and get it done today.

Our seller's EA has gone off to check on the kerb situation, I've asked for an update on the rest of the chain, too. A couple of parties had the odd thing outstanding at the end of last week. I'm hoping everyone is pestering to get this thing done as much as I am.

This is all getting a bit stressful. Our vendor is putting pressure on everyone for exchange by this Thursday. I don't blame her. Missing page in paperwork is still missing. So now a deed variation is being drawn up that needs to be signed by multiple parties. If we exchange by Thursday it will be a miracle. If we don't exchange by Thursday I am seriously worried she will pull out! Argh!!!!

I was very blunt lol. Felt a bit guilty though so phoned the EA to have a chat about it, she said there's no need to worry about his threats as there's not much he can do at this stage.

It hasn't been too bad packing ourselves, we emptied one room and the store rooms to put all the boxes into. But it's just unbelievable how much stuff you can accumulate.

I have spent today alternating between tears and rage. Top of the chain now wants to delay by a fortnight. Consequently nobody is in agreement and therefore we can't exchange until we have got a date we're all happy with.

I have given just about everybody both barrels.

Oh Lazy. That’s ridiculous. Glad you have them hell. hope an agreement can be met soon

That’s crazy Lazy. Hope everyone decides on a date tomorrow.

Good and bad news today. Mortgage has gone to underwriting and valuation is next Tuesday but also found out that the house is in a high flood risk area. Insurance bill is going to be huge I hope it doesn’t cause mortgage problems.

lazy what a bugger re the completion date - get your EA to work on this for you - even with a 2 week delay you can still exchange this week. We had completion date quibbles at the bottom of the chain last week, but all resolved within 24 hours.

mrs do you know how much of a flood risk? The house we are purchasing has a river at the end of the garden, which came up to within 25m of the house 5 years back (so says the searches - actually the owners told us this too). It hasn't affected the mortgage nor the insurance (we're currently exchanged, waiting for completion in 2 weeks) so try not to worry too much (easier said than done I know).

Thanks guys. Feeling pretty crap at the moment TBH. I know in the grand scheme of things it's not a disaster but we have been chased and chased by the top of the chain all the way through. I've turned myself inside out trying to drag everyone to the finish line in time - only to find that the top of the chain want a leisurely completion that suits them. We'll see what happens today.

Puss I have PMed you on flood issues.

I’m chasing today to see if our buyers mortgage deed is ready and to try and confirm dates/ push for target dates. I can see me getting nowhere but it has to be worth a go. Half term is creeping up and removal firm availability is going down. I may be resorting to a man with a van at this rate!

Hey everyone, hope you're all doing well on the rollercoaster. Today we'll find out whether our sale is going ahead once and for all - we've had our mortgage extended to accommodate all the delays but the end of our month is the cut-off point before we have to reapply from scratch. We want to book removals for the 27th now because of half term week, so we've asked our buyer to agree that they'll cover the cost of that if they delays us again. Which basically means if they say no today, they're basically confirming they can't complete by the end of the month and we'll be pulling out, because we're not going through another application for them when they've messed us around so much. Will be heartbroken to lose our house but for our sanity we need to walk away.